NEW YORK, NY (April 11, 2016) — This Thursday during National Action Network’s (NAN) 25th Annual National Convention, Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President of the United States, will be honored with the NAN President’s Award at the “Keepers of the Dream” Dinner and Awards Ceremony. This special distinction recognizes Jarrett’s exemplary service, commitment, and leadership in the fight for civil and human rights in the United States. Rev. Al Sharpton, NAN Founder and President, will present the award on Thursday, April 14th at the Keepers of the Dream dinner and awards ceremony along with Martin Luther King, III, the eldest son of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Each year, National Action Network presents awards to those who have kept Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream alive. Like Dr. King, these individuals have devoted their lives and careers to advancing the cause of justice. This year, Anthony Anderson, actor, writer, and executive producer of ABC’s hit sitcom, “Black-ish” will host the ceremony.

Thursday, March 17, 2016 (New York, NY) – “I am saddened by the news of the passing of former Georgia State Senator Ralph David Abernathy III, the son of the famed civil rights leader. He was my friend and brother, an activist in the truest sense of the word, and the bearer of the flame of his father, who co-piloted the civil rights movement with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He would often come and speak at National Action Network and we spent many hours talking. Even as he suffered with cancer throughout the last several months, we shared advice and a close relationship. He was a model for continuing the work in our generation and of the generations past. He will be missed. He will be mourned. He will be loved. He was the son of a true giant who became a giant in his own right.”

NEW YORK – Rev. Al Sharpton, president and founder of the National Action Network (NAN), released the following statement on the death of lifelong civil rights leader and former NAACP board chairman Julian Bond:

“National Action Network (NAN) mourns the loss of civil rights leader and former NAACP board chairman Julian Bond, a trailblazer for equality and inclusion. As one who came out of the immediate generation after him, I grew up admiring and studying the work of Julian Bond and the country has lost a champion for human rights. The work of Mr. Bond will be missed but not forgotten as we march forward for civil rights.”

The New York City convention, held on Wednesday, highlighted powerful reactions to the recent police shooting of Walter Scott, as well as painful recollections of loss and words of wisdom on loved ones who have been killed as a result of police brutality — an act we’ve seen repeated over the passings of many young black men in recent months. The heartbreaking letter penned by Trayvon Martin’s mother, Sybrina Fulton, to Michael Brown’s family is among those painful reminders.

Words of pain and calls for change were echoed by all the parents and spouses who spoke on Wednesday.

“I have to stay strong and fight. Our children [should] know the struggles not only that we come from but the struggles that we still have ahead.”“It’s not over. We still have to go through this and it’s a shame.”

March 4, 2015 – (New York, NY) – On Sunday, March 8 at 11 a.m., Rev. Al Sharpton, President of National Action Network, will deliver a key sermon at Brown Chapel A.M.E. in Selma, Alabama, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights leaders were based during the 1965 Voting Rights campaign and organized historic marches from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.

WHO: Rev. Al Sharpton, President of the National Action Network

WHAT: Key sermon to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery marches and the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965

Additionally, on Friday, March 6, Rev. Sharpton will host his MSNBC show Politics Nation live from Selma as well as his nationally syndicated radio show. On Saturday, March 7, he will join other civil rights leaders as they listen to President Obama and Bush’s speeches at the Edmund Pettus Bridge to mark the 50th anniversary of the marches from Selma to Montgomery and the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

On Saturday evening at 5 p.m., Rev. Al Sharpton will participate in a civil rights forum at the Selma Convention Center, and at 7 p.m., he will speak at an HIV/AIDS Town Hall meeting at Selma University.

On Sunday, before his sermon at Brown A.M.E., Rev. Sharpton will participate in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King Unity Breakfast. Following his sermon, he will participate in the march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge and post-march rally at 4 p.m.

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National Action Network (NAN) is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the country to promote a modern civil rights agenda around voting rights, criminal justice reform, economic justice and education.

CO-CONVENERS TO INCLUDE THE BLACK WOMEN’S ROUND TABLE, NAACP & NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE, ALONG WITH DOZENS OF PARTNERS (COMPLETE LIST BELOW)

December 10, 2014 (New York, NY)—Rev. Al Sharpton, President of National Action Network (NAN) will be joined by the families of Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice and Trayvon Martin on December 13, 2014 for the National ‘Justice For All’ march. The march will be co-convened By Black Women’s Round Table, NAACP and National Urban League along with partners from civil rights, labor and the church.

The ‘Justice For All’ march will be led by Eric Garner’s widow Esaw Garner and mother Gwen Carr; Michael Brown’s father Michael Brown Sr. and mother Lesley McSpadden; Tamir Rice’s mother Samaria Rice; Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton and father Tracy Martin. Also joining the march will be the parents of John Crawford, the domestic partner of Akai Gurley; the mother of Amadou Diallo; and LeVar Jones the unarmed man shot by a South Carolina State Trooper.

12:00p.m. – March Begins from Freedom Plaza to the United States Capitol

1:15p.m (tentative time). – Rally at the conclusion of the march by the United States Capitol where leaders and families will outline a legislative agenda for Congress. Rally at: at Pennsylvania Ave NW & 3rd St NW, Washington, D.C.

November 20, 2014 (Washington, D.C.)–National Action Network applauds President Obama’s swift executive action to address immigration reform within his legal authority. Our nation’s immigration system is broken and it is imperative to fix it in order to preserve our nation’s economy, security and families. NAN supports President Obama’s efforts to pass a common sense solution that ensures a fair and equitable process. Given the constraints of the law and breadth of the problem, there is more to be done. We also call on Congress to act as well and work to with the Administration on this vitally important issue. Together we can build a fair, effective and common sense immigration system that lives up to our heritage as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants.

“The executive action by the President is a huge step forward for the civil and human rights movement, that wants to see people treated in a humane but thought out manner. This is a constructive way to deal with a human problem in which everyone wins. The President had no choice but to do what Congress has failed to do and that is to move forward on this issue.” Said Rev. Al Sharpton, President, National Action Network.

November 19, 2014 (New York, NY)—In anticipation of the impending grand jury decision in Ferguson, MO, National Action Network (NAN) Chapters are encouraging community members to join them when it is announced. Regardless of what the decision is, NAN chapters in over 20 cities around the country will gather. If the decision is to indict Officer Darren Wilson, they will focus on what would be a teaching moment on how to deal with national legislation for policing. Moving forward they would also focus on how they can prepare for the trial. If the Ferguson grand jury decision clears him of criminal charges then NAN will call for protests to remain peaceful and for the federal government to come in with a federal grand jury to move for civil rights charges on excessive force. NAN will continue to also call for federal intervention in cases such as Eric Garner in Staten Island, NY.

12:00 p.m. Rev. Sharpton will be available to speak to press at the conclusion of the meeting in front of the NBA Olympic Tower building

WHAT:

Rev. Al Sharpton, President of the National Action Network and other leading civil rights leaders are scheduled to meet with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver tomorrow to discuss the ongoing LA Clippers matter and address civil rights issues within the NBA moving forward.

BACKGROUND:

NAN is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the country with over 70 chapters in the U.S. The organization works extensively to promote a modern civil rights agenda, which includes the fight for equality of opportunity for all people regardless of race, class or sex, social justice for all communities, education, non-violence, equality in healthcare and improvement of race relations. Through the years, NAN has served as a voice for the voiceless and an advocate for those in need.

Reverend Lennox Yearwood is a man of faith who’s been in hip hop‘s corner since its inception.

Yearwood is the current president of the Hip Hop Caucus, a youth empowerment organization based in Washington, D.C. Yearwood is responsible for such campaigns as Diddy’s “Vote or Die” campaign in 2004 along with Jay-Z’s “Rock The Vote” movement in 2008. His new passion is bringing light to how climate control is impacting urban communities.

Rev. Yearwood sat down with theGrio.com’s Kyle Harvey to discuss hip hop’s activist spirit and the artists he thinks are using their platforms for change.